In 2019, the Public Prosecutor's Office identified serious environmental harm and the accelerated loss of forest in an area of special ecological protection situated between Calamar and Miraflores in Guaviare. According to the investigation, construction between the two municipalities was carried out without the relevant environmental licenses or permits. This – combined with the continuous passage of heavy vehicles and subsequent settlements established following illegal logging and forest burning – caused the protected area and the region’s water sources to deteriorate. Miraflores and Calamar’s mayors were said to have facilitated the advancement of the building works along the 138km road corridor. They were also allegedly lenient in the face of any irregularities that arose. According to monitoring systems belonging to IDEAM – the institute of hydrology, meteorology and environmental studies – deforestation in Guaviare tripled during the two mayors’ governing periods. Deforestation rose from 11,456 hectares in 2015 to 34,527 hectares in 2018, much of which was related to where the illegal road was built. The ex-public officials were charged with aggravated damage to natural resources and aggravated invasion of an area of special ecological importance.